DEFYING CHINA

A Tibetan refugee’s courageous tell-all memoir takes on Chinese occupation.

This passionate account of standing up against injustice traces Dolma’s journey from the Tibetan village where she grew up to the capital city of Lhasa, following her to Amherst, Massachusetts, by way of refugee camps in places including Kathmandu, Nepal, and Varanasi and Dharamsala in India. At age 12, Dolma’s father began speaking of marriage for her, but she didn’t want to stuff herself “into a life that was two sizes too small.” Focused on getting an education, she determined to become a Buddhist nun like her great-aunt; at a nunnery, she’d learn to read. This dream came true, leading Dolma to ask herself, “What good was an education if I didn’t use it?” For supporting the cause of a free Tibet, she was imprisoned and sexually assaulted by Chinese authorities. Debut co-authors Dolma and Hsieh recount the Chinese government’s violent crackdown on Buddhists’ religious freedom. The book also highlights misogyny in Tibet, where early marriage was framed as protective for girls. Dolma felt “the obvious solution was to teach boys” respectful behavior. Tragically, when she turned to a childhood friend for help, he attempted to rape her while she slept. Portraying Dolma as a fighter rather than a victim, this work shows the power of prayer and the kindness of strangers when facing horrifying circumstances. This powerfully and accessibly written story puts a human face on complex, ongoing issues.

Chilling and memorable; a must-read.